MATCH REPORT: THORNBURY TOWN V BRISLINGTON

Brislington arrived with optimism after their emphatic 7–1 league win over Nailsea, but Vase football on Friday night proved a different challenge.

Manager Matt Lewton was forced into changes: first-choice keeper Schofield was unavailable, while stand-ins Selway and Tubbs were cup-tied. Olly Phillips was drafted in for his debut. Further absences — Kington, Dunne and Scaddings — meant a reshuffle, with Saunders dropping into centre-back.

With the tie moved to a Friday and reduced admission prices, Thornbury enjoyed a bumper crowd under the lights. The home fans soon had reason to cheer when Ash Ozua pounced on a loose ball and fired home, Phillips unable to keep it out despite getting good hands to it.

Brislington responded well, seeing more of the ball and finally breaking through on 23 minutes. Ollie Williams slid a fine pass into Shea Mannings, who coolly steadied himself before tucking away the equaliser. For a moment it felt like a turning point, but disaster struck less than a minute later — Ozua again capitalising on hesitation to restore Thornbury’s lead.

From there, the Foxes worked hard without creating clear chances, and were punished again before half-time. Ozua this time turned provider, breaking the lines before squaring for a well-taken finish to make it 3–1. To compound matters, makeshift centre-back Saunders was forced off injured.

The second half followed a similar pattern: plenty of possession but little penetration. On 52 minutes the task became harder when Withey was sin-binned for dissent, leaving Brislington with a mountain to climb.

Despite huffing and puffing, Lewton’s side rarely looked like breaking through. Late on, young Freddie Frazer almost sparked a grandstand finish when his strike rattled the post, but it wasn’t to be.

A lively Vase tie ended in defeat, and Brislington’s cup run was over — to the delight of the jubilant Thornbury support.